L-carnitine improves polycystic ovary syndrome by increasing CYP11A1, estrogen receptor, and decreasing XNIP and VEGF...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive disorder associated with infertility and causes other complications in different parts of the body. Many studies have reported reduced L-carnitine (LC) levels in these patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of LC in an animal model of PCOS induced by estradiol valerate (EV). In this study, 15 adult female Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control group, PCOS group receiving EV (4 mg/kg body weight), and PCOS group treated with LC administered orally by gavage (100 mg/kg daily for 17 days). At the end of the treatment period, after euthanizing the animals, serum levels of LH, FSH, testosterone, insulin and glucose were analyzed, and histological, immuno-histochemical (IHC), and molecular examinations of the ovaries were performed. The results showed that LC significantly increased the expression of CYP11A1(cytochrome p450 11A1) (related to steroidogenesis) and TXNIP (thioredoxin interacting protein) (related to oxidative stress) and increased serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), reduced testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), glucose, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance. Improvement in histological and morphometric changes of ovarian follicles as well as IHC expression of estrogen receptor and VEGF was observed in the treatment group. It appears that LC supplementation, through reducing weight, improving sex hormone levels, and enhancing ovarian structure, may offer a promising approach for alleviating complications associated with PCOS and reducing other related disorders. This protocol may be considered a potential future therapeutic intervention for PCOS, though further clinical investigations are required.